Feeder control and method

ABSTRACT

A feeder is disclosed in which a supply feeder delivers frangible parts to a linear feeder. The control is achieved by slaving the supply feeder to the linear feeder, and controlling the number of parts on the linear feeder as a master with the supply feeder as slave. An interrupted beam control is positioned to determine the infeed from the supply feeder to the linear feeder, the linear feeder being controlled by another beam interruption control at its delivering end. The parts are delivered to a finite position, illustrated for pick up by a conveyor having a plurality of buckets on a chain. The control shuts off the slave supply feeder upon a predetermined time delay after parts pass through the beam. The supply feeder is then activated again after the parts blockage is removed. For purposes of illustration, the supply feeder is a vibratory bowl feeder and the linear feeder is a vibratory linear feeder. The method contemplates feeding the parts to the linear feeder from the slave supply feeder shutting the same off upon a predetermined time delay after a signal. The signal is a function of continuous parts blockage of a sensor, which is reactivated responsive to the absence of parts blockage, the method of controlling the linear feeder being solely the function of positioning of parts at its delivery end.

United States Patent Smith [451 Mar. 28, 1972 [54] FEEDER CONTROL ANDMETHOD [72] Inventor: Floyd E. Smith, 5704 Brewster Lane, Erie,

[22] Filed: Dec. 7, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 95,473

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. LaneAttorney-Dominik, Knechtel & Godula [5 7] ABSTRACT A feeder is disclosedin which a supply feeder delivers frangible parts to a linear feeder.The control is achieved by slaving the supply feeder to the linearfeeder, and controlling the number of parts on the linear feeder as amaster with the supply feeder as slave. An interrupted beam control ispositioned to determine the infeed from the supply feeder to the linearfeeder, the linear feeder being controlled by another beam interruptioncontrol at its delivering end. The parts are delivered to a finiteposition, illustrated for pick up by a conveyor having a plurality ofbuckets on a chain. The control shuts off the slave supply feeder upon apredetermined time delay after parts pass through the beam. The supplyfeeder is then activated again after the parts blockage is removed. Forpurposes of illustration, the supply feeder is a vibratory bowl feederand the linear feeder is a vibratory linear feeder.

The method contemplates feeding the parts to the linear feeder from theslave supply feeder shutting the same off upon a predetermined timedelay after a signal. The signal is a function of continuous partsblockage of a sensor, which is reactivated responsive to the absence ofparts blockage, the method of controlling the linear feeder being solelythe function of positioning of parts at its delivery end.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZB I972 3,651,985

INVENTOR Floyd E. Smith FIG. 1 i

PATENTEUMR 28 i972 SHEET 3 OF 4 //v VEN TOR Floyd E. Smith PATENTEnmzs1972 3,651,985

sum u 0F 4 FIG. 5

sm FEEDER ig 22 CONTROL T l F/xED T/ME DELAY I LINE INPUT DETECTORSUPPLY FEEDER I AMPLIFIER SENSOR LINEAR FEEDER fig .52 CONTROL RDETECTOR LINEAR AMPLIFIER 555 INVENTOR Floyd E. Smith MAYZ MA ATTYS-FEEDER CONTROL AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The background of thepresent invention as illustrated is shown in the feeding of frangibletype parts and more particularly spark plug porcelains. Such parts,particularly when fed by a vibratory bowl feeder, cannot be permitted totumble back into the bowl. Additionally, when the linear feeder is avibratory linear feeder, the parts should not be permitted to bump oneinto the other and jam as this can cause breakage. When delivered to aconveyor or pick-off device, the same should be positioned for immediateremoval without tangling with other parts on the track.

More particularly, where porcelain parts of this type are involved, theatmosphere in the manufacturing center is often dirty, dusty, orotherwise contaminated making it difficult to use photoelectric cellswhich will have to be continuously cleaned.

Bowl feeders of the vibratory type are well known, and any such bowlfeeder may be used in the combination. Also centrifugal, rotary hopper,and other supply feeders may be used. The linear feeder illustrated isof the character shown in Otto K. Schwenzfeier U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,260.Conveyor type linear feeders may also be employed. In the attempts ofthe prior art to feed porcelains to the rubber buckets of the characterdescribed above, an overdriving by the bowl to the linear feeder hasresulted in breakage and jamming. When an attempt was made to starve thelinear feeder, often times one in of the buckets intended to feed thespark plug porcelains were empty.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION The invention stems from the discovery that byusing infrared sensing devices, and feeding the parts to a linear feederfrom a slaved supply feeder, that adequate spacing can be maintainedbetween the frangible parts and yet a feed rate programmed which iscompatible with varying quantities of porcelains within the supplyfeeder, and filling all of the pickoff devices. The control system shutsoff the slaved supply feeder upon a predetermined time delay after asignal. The signal, of course, is a function of a part being present andblocking one of the sensors, the sensor controlling the slaved supplyfeeder. The supply feeder remains off as long as a continuous partsblockage takes place. The slaved supply feeder is then reactivatedresponsive to the absence of a parts blockage on the sensor indicatingthat a further supply of parts is required by the linear feeder. The farend of the linear feeder, the delivery portion, has a second sensingdevice and the linear feeder is deactivated whenever a part is present,and activated as soon as that part is removed. Both the method and thecontrol system rely upon the above sequence, and are enhanced by theutilization of infrared sensing devices rather than photoelectric cellssince the infrared sensing devices are not deactivated by the presenceof dust on any lenses. Other sensing devices including pneumatic andcapacitance change sensors are contemplated.

One e of the principal objects of the present invention is to feedfrangible parts such as spark plug porcelains from a varying supplyfeeder without jamming or damage.

A further and related object of the present invention is to control suchfeeding in a manner that does not require constant maintenance, butrather can run an entire shift with little or no assistance apart fromkeeping the supply feeder full.

Still another and more specific object of the present invention is toprovide a combination of vibratory bowl feeder and vibratory linearfeeder in which the parts would uniformly be presented to a pick-off atthe far end of the linear feeder track without interruption and jamming.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a feeder controland method for frangible parts of the character just discussed in whichthe bulk of the elements making up the feeder are standard availableparts such as a vibratory bowl feeder, and an infrared blockageinterruption sensing device thereby holding the overall cost of thefeeder control and method to a minimum due to the number of stock itemsemployed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a feedercontrol which compensates for wide variances in the feed rate in aslaved supply feeder as well as the quantities of parts being fed.

DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent as the following description of anillustrative embodiment proceeds taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partially broken view illustrating therelationship between the supply feeder, linear feeder, two sensingassemblies, and a pick-off conveyor.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken perspective view of the deliveryend of the linear feeder shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS is a plan top view of the linear feeder track, its relationshipwith the supply feeder, and specifically showing the axes of the sensorbeams.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the pick-off end of the linear feedershowing a typical part in place for pick-off.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the control circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I, the generalassembly, it will be seen that-the porcelain parts 1 are fed by means ofa linear feeder 10 and its associated track 12 which are mounted atop abase 11 to a conveyor 30. The conveyor 30 has a chain 31 which rides onthe conveyor rail 34 and has a plurality of rubber buckets 32 whichreceive the porcelain parts 1. The parts are fed from the supply feeder20 onto the linear feeder track 12.

The linear feeder 10 is the master, and the supply feeder 20 is theslave. The linear feeder 10 is controlled by means of an infrared beaminterruption control or linear sensor 14. The sensor is made up of theouter sensor 15 and the inner sensor 16, one of which is a black boxinfrared emitting source, and the other an infrared detector such asexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,005. The detector is programmed tosense the presence or absence of a part 1 on the track 12 of the linearfeeder 10. The in-line linear feeder sensor 14 is programmed to activatethe linear feeder 10 when the part 1 is absent from the end of the track12, and deactivate the linear feeder 10 when a part 1 is present at theend of the track 12. There is no time delay, or other detail ofadjustment required of the linear sensor assembly 14 than to positionthe part 1 at the absolute end of the track 12 so that the buckets 32 onthe conveyor assembly 30 will pick the part off of the end of the linearfeeder each time the bucket passes the end of the linear feeder track12.

As will be seen in FIG. 3, the linear feeder sensor 14 with its outersensor 15 and inner sensor 16 emits a beam 17 which, as shown, isinterrupted by the center line of the porcelain part 1. The sensors 15and 16 are supported on the base 11 by means of the outer sensor support18 and the inner sensor support 19, the construction of which may bevaried in accordance with the spaced relationship surrounding theassembly.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the supplyfeeder beam 5 extends between the supply feeder sensor 21 elements whichare a rear sensor 22 and a front sensor 24. The supply feeder sensorbeam 25 is positioned at an angle so that slight gaps between the partsI will appear as a solid line, therefore rendering the supply feedersensor assembly 21 less susceptible to hunting which will occur whensome parts are slightly spaced, particularly since the parts 1 as shownhave varying cross-sections. The rear sensor support 26 and front sensorsupport 28 have slightly different configurations than those shown forthe linear feeder outer sensor support 18 and inner sensor support 19based upon the particular arrangement involved.

Referring now to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the linear feeder l0, andmore particularly its track 12, are made up of track rails 40 which areadjustable as to width as to accommodate varying configurations of theporcelain part 1. Additionally, track guides 41 are provided atop theadjustable rails 40, and by means of screws or other slotted or threadedmembers, cooperate with the underlying track rail supports 42 to adjustthe positions of the rails 40 to accommodate the porcelain part 1. Hereagain it will be seen that the cross-section of the porcelain part 1varies between top to bottom, and thus the 10 desirability of anglingthe supply feeder beam 25 as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The method of control presupposes that the linear feeder 10 is themaster, and the supply feeder 20 is the slave. As set forth 1 above, thelinear feeder sensor beam 17, when interrupted, stops the linear feeder10. Conversely, when the part 1 has been removed and fitted into one ofthe buckets 32, the beam 17 is then uninterrupted and the linear feeder10 again activated. As will be observed in FIG. 1, the parts are instandard orientation, and not crowded in edge to edge contact. Thisconfiguration of the flow along the vibratory linear feeder 10 is quiteimportant to prevent breakage, jamming, and the missing of parts by thebuckets 32.

The spacing is accomplished by the time of the supply feeder beam 25activation of the supply feeder bowl 20. This is achieved through a timedelay sequence circuit as shown in FIG. 5, the sequence being asfollows:

1. Upon the absence of parts sensed by the supply feeder beam,25, suchas the gap shown at the right hand portion of the linear feeder l atopthe rails 12 in FIG. 1, the supply feeder 20 is then activated.

2. When the supply feeder beam 25 senses a blockage again, a time delayof one or two seconds is set off so that a few parts will pass thesupply feeder beam 25 before the supply feeder is again deactivated.

3. After the given time delay, the supply feeder beam circuitautomatically shuts off the supply feeder 20 irrespective of whetherparts are present or not interrupting the supply feeder beam 25.

4. If parts are absent, of course, the supply feeder 20 will beimmediately reactivated due to a non-blockage of the supply feeder beam25.

0n the other hand, if parts are present, the supply feeder will remaininactive until the supply feeder beam 25 is again unbroken, and thesupply feeder activated.

As shown in FIG. 3, as pointed out above, it is considered desirable toposition the supply feeder beam at an acute angle with the longitudinalaxis of the feeder 12, both from a standpoint of assuring additionalspace, and providing for positive blockage of the supply feeder beam 25for sensing.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit theinvention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments,usages and equivalents of a feeder control and method as fall within thespirit and scope of the invention, specification and the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A feeder control comprising, in combination a supply feeder tooledfor delivering parts one at a time,

an uninterrupted linear feeder tooled for receiving the said partsdelivered one at a time from the supply feeder,

a control mechanism involving two interrupted beams, one a linear feederbeam sensor and one a supply feeder beam sensor,

means coupling the two said beam sensors to activate the supply feederas a slave and the linear feeder as a master,

said linear feeder beam sensor being positioned at the delivery end ofthe linear feeder and set to activate the linear feeder based upon theabsence of blockage and deactivate the linear feeder based upon thepresence of blockage by a single part,

the supply feeder beam being positioned and set to activate the supplyfeeder upon the absence of a single part,

a time delay device operatively connected to said supply feeder beam todeactivate the supply feeder a predetermined time delay after blockageoccurs and position the supply feeder for reactivation after no furtherbreak of the beam occurs,

and thereafter the supply feeder beam being conditioned for reactivationupon the absence of a part and the activation of the supply feederthereupon.

2. In the feeder control of claim 1 above, orienting the supply feederbeam sensor at an acute angle with the linear feeder track axis tothereby be blind to gaps between parts attributable to narrower portionsof the parts at the point where the axis of the beam is positioned.

3. In the control of claim 1,

means for sighting at an acute angle said supply beam interruptionactivator along the input portion of the linear feeder to sense thepresence or absence of parts,

means for activating the supply feeder responsive to the absence ofparts,

and means for presetting a time delay to pass at least two parts beforeshut oftof supply feeder due to the presence of parts sensed by the beaminterruption activator.

4. In the control of claim 1,

said supply feeder being a vibratory bowl feeder,

said linear feeder being a vibratory linear feeder.

5. In the control of claim 2,

said supply feeder being a vibratory bowl feeder,

said linear feeder being a vibratory linear feeder.

6. In the control of claim 3,

said supply feeder being a vibratory bowl feeder,

said linear feeder being a vibratory linear feeder.

7. A method of controlling the feeding of individual parts oriented fordelivery one at a time to transfer means to receive such parts singlyfrom a linear feeder which in turn receives single oriented parts from aslaved supply feeder comprising the steps of feeding the parts one at atime to the linear feeder from the slaved supply feeder,

delaying the shutting off the slaved supply feeder for a predeterminedtime after a signal,

said signal being a function of continuous parts blockage of a sensor atthe receiving part of the linear feeder,

activating the slaved supply feeder responsive to the absence of partsblockage of the sensor at the receiving part of the linear feeder,

deactivating the linear feeder responsive to one part'at its deliveryend, and reactivating the linear feeder upon the removal of a part atits delivery end.

8. In the method of claim 7,

reactivating the supply feeder responsive to the absence of a part at adiscreet position at the infeed portion of the linear feeder,

delaying the deactivation of the supply feeder a predeten mined time lagafter first part has passed the discreet positron,

thereafter deactivating the supply feeder responsive to the presence ofa part at the discreet position, thereby sending at least a pair ofparts onto the linear feeder after the supply feeder is activated.

9. In the method of claim 7,

sighting at an acute angle a beam interruption activator along the inputportion of the linear feeder to sense the presence or absence of parts,

activating the supply feeder responsive to the absence of Parts,

and presetting a time delay to pass at least two parts before shut offof the supply feeder due to the presence of parts sensed by the beaminterruption activator.

10. In the method of claim 8,

sighting at an acute angle a beam interruption activator along the inputportion of the linear feeder to sense the presence or absence of parts,

activating the supply feeder responsive to the absence of parts,

and presetting a time delay to pass at least two parts before shutoff ofthe supply feeder due to the presence of parts sensed by the beaminterruption activator.

* il k

1. A feeder control comprising, in combination a supply feeder tooledfor delivering parts one at a time, an uninterrupted linear feedertooled for receiving the said parts delivered one at a time from thesupply feeder, a control mechanism involving two interrupted beams, onea linear feeder beam sensor and one a supply feeder beam sensor, meanscoupling the two said beam sensors to activate the supply feeder as aslave and the linear feeder as a master, said linear feeder beam sensorbeing positioned at the delivery end of the linear feeder and set toactivate the linear feeder based upon the absence of blockage anddeactivate the linear feeder based upon the presence of blockage by asingle part, the supply feeder beam being positioned and set to activatethe supply feeder upon the absence of a single part, a time delay deviceoperatively connected to said supply feeder beam to deactivate thesupply feeder a predetermined time delay after blockage occurs andposition the supply feeder for reactivation after no further break ofthe beam occurs, and thereafter the supply feeder beam being conditionedfor reactivation upon the absence of a part and the activation of thesupply feeder thereupon.
 2. In the feeder control of claim 1 above,orienting the supply feeder beam sensor at an acute angle with thelinear feeder track axis to thereby be blind to gaps between partsattributable to narrower portions of the parts at the point where theaxis of the beam is positioned.
 3. In the control of claim 1, means forsighting at an acute angle said supply beam interruption activator alongthe input portion of the linear feeder to sense the presence or absenceof parts, means for activating the supply feeder responsive to theabsence of parts, and means for presetting a time delay to pass at leasttwo parts before shut off of supply feeder due to the presence of partssensed by the beam interruption activator.
 4. In the control of claim 1,said supply feeder being a vibratory bowl feeder, said linear feederbeing a vibratory linear feeder.
 5. In the control of claim 2, saidsupply feeder being a vibratory bowl feeder, said linear feeder being avibratory linear feeder.
 6. In the control of claim 3, said supplyfeeder being a vibratory bowl feeder, said linear feeder being avibratory linear feeder.
 7. A method of controlling the feeding ofindividual parts oriented for delivery one at a time to transfer meansto receive such parts singly from a linear feeder which in turn receivessingle oriented parts from a slaved supply feeder comprising the stepsof feeding the parts one at a time to the linear feeder from the slavedsupply feeder, delaying the shutting off the slaved supply feeder for apredetermined time after a signal, said signal being a function ofcontinuous parts blockage of a sensor at the receiving part of thElinear feeder, activating the slaved supply feeder responsive to theabsence of parts blockage of the sensor at the receiving part of thelinear feeder, deactivating the linear feeder responsive to one part atits delivery end, and reactivating the linear feeder upon the removal ofa part at its delivery end.
 8. In the method of claim 7, reactivatingthe supply feeder responsive to the absence of a part at a discreetposition at the infeed portion of the linear feeder, delaying thedeactivation of the supply feeder a predetermined time lag after firstpart has passed the discreet position, thereafter deactivating thesupply feeder responsive to the presence of a part at the discreetposition, thereby sending at least a pair of parts onto the linearfeeder after the supply feeder is activated.
 9. In the method of claim7, sighting at an acute angle a beam interruption activator along theinput portion of the linear feeder to sense the presence or absence ofparts, activating the supply feeder responsive to the absence of parts,and presetting a time delay to pass at least two parts before shut offof the supply feeder due to the presence of parts sensed by the beaminterruption activator.
 10. In the method of claim 8, sighting at anacute angle a beam interruption activator along the input portion of thelinear feeder to sense the presence or absence of parts, activating thesupply feeder responsive to the absence of parts, and presetting a timedelay to pass at least two parts before shut off of the supply feederdue to the presence of parts sensed by the beam interruption activator.